Shell holder



March 1963 J. B. ROBERTSON 3,082,660

SHELL HOLDER Filed Sept. 11, 1961 JAMES BENJAMIN ROBERTSflN INVEN TOR.

66M QM A JITTORNE Y 3,@8Z,fiiifi Patented Mar. 26, 1963 3,082,660 SHELLHOLDER James Benjamin Robertson, 8509 Michael St, Fort Worth, Tex. FiledSept. 11, 1961, Ser. No. 137,431 Claims. (Cl. 8644) This inventionrelates to a shell holder, and it concerns more particularly a holderfor used shells or casings, applicable interchangeable to shells orcasings of different types and sizes, for use in conjunction with apress having suitable dies for reconditioning for reuse the shells orcasings of spent cartridges employed as ammunition for small arms suchas rifles and pistols.

It is common practice among individual gun enthusiasts to reconditionfor reuse, on a do-it-yourself basis, the shells or casings of spentcartridges, and a number of small presses of different types areavailable for that purpose.

In one form of press for the purpose described a shell or casing isresized in a step of one series, which also includes removing the usedcap or primer and replacing it with another, and thereafter, in anotherseries of steps, the shell is reloaded with gunpowder and a new bulletis inserted therein.

In the type of press above referred to the step of resizing the shell orcasing involves the use of one die, and the step of reloading the shellwith gunpowder requires a different die. The used cap or primer isremoved and replaced simultaneously with the resizing step, and the newbullet is inserted during the reloading step. In each series of stepsthe shell or casing is advanced and retracted relative to the die by aram having a shell holder as hereinafter described.

In presses as described the die ordinarily is supported in fixedposition above a table or other supporting surface, and a ram having aholder whereby a shell or casing is removably connected thereto israised and lowered whereby the shell is advanced and retracted relativeto the die.

The shell or casing may have a radially outwardly extending annularflange, or alternatively, a peripheral groove, adjacent the end thereofwhich carries the cap or primer, and may or may not be swagedintermediate its ends.

A rarn of a type which is commonly employed in such presses may comprisea vertically reciprocable bar, round in transverse section, having anintegral holder consisting of a transverse slot extending radiallyinwardly from on side thereof, adjacent its upper end, for engagement bythe flanged or grooved end of a shell or casing received therein. theslot having a marginal lip extending inwardly from its upper edge, inspaced apart relation to the bottom of the slot, engageable over theannular flange of the shell or in the peripheral groove thereof, as thecase may be, whereby the shell is positively secured to the holder andis forcibly disengaged from the die upon downward movement of the ram.

An object of this invention is to provide a shell or casing holder asdescribed which is applicable interchangeably to shells or casings ofdifferent types and sizes.

The invention will be readily understood by referring to the followingdescription and the accompanying draw ing. in which:

FIG. 1 is a top plan view of a shell or casing holder embodying theinvention;

FIG. 2 is a side elevational view; and

FIG. 3 is a view similar to FIG. 2 showing the holder with its threadedcap removed and showing a shell or casing, indicated by dotted lines, inits operative position relative to the holder.

Referring to the drawing, the numeral 1 designates generally a shell orcasing holder embodying the invention, and the numeral 2 indicatesgenerally a shell or casing, shown in dotted lines in FIG. 3, having oneof its ends removably connected to the holder 1, as hereinafterdescribed, and extending upwardly therefrom for engagement with a die(not shown) which, with the holder 1, advantageously may be incorporatedin a suitable press whereby the shell 2 may be advanced and retractedrelative to the die upon vertical reciprocating movement of the holder1.

As shown in FIG. 3, the shell 2 has a radially outwardly extendingannular flange 3 adjacent the end thereof which carries the cap orprimer (not shown).

The holder 1 includes a fitting, indicated generally by the numeral 4,which may comprise an upper end portion, or alternatively, an upwardextension of a ram consisting of a vertically reciprocable bar, round intransverse section, to which it may be removably connected, as by meansof Allen screws (not shown).

The fitting 4 is generally cylindrical and has an en larged upper endportion 5, which is threaded externally, and a lower end portion 6 oflesser diameter. A cap, indicated generally by the numeral 7, which isthreaded internally and advantageously may have a knurled outerperipheral surface, is received on the threaded upper end portion 5 ofthe fitting 4.

As shown in FIG. 3, and as indicated by dotted lines in FIG. I, atransverse slot 8 extends radially inwardly from one side of the upperend portion 5 of the fitting 4, adjacent its upper end, beyond thecenter thereof. The slot 8 has two parallel sides which extendvertically, perpendicular to the bottom thereof, and is curved at itsinner end.

A central bore 9, which extends thru the upper end portion 5 of thefitting 4, communicates at its upper end with the bottom of the slot 8.A longitudinal slot 10, shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, extends radiallyinwardly from one side of the lower end portion 6 of the fitting 4,beyond the center thereof, and communicates at its upper end with thelower end of the central bore 9.

The cap 7 has a transverse slot 11 extending radially inwardly from oneside thereof, beyond its center, and extending downwardly from the topthereof along said one side, corresponding to the transverse slot 8 ofthe upper end portion 5 of the fitting 4.

In one rotative position of the cap 7 relative to the fitting 4, asshown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the bottom and sides of the transverse slot 11of the cap 7 are aligned longitudinally and circumferentially with thebottom and sides of the transverse slot 8 of the fitting 4.

The inner end portion of the transverse slot 11 is enlarged, as at 12,whereby it extends radially outwardly beyond opposite sides and theadjacent end of the transverse slot 8.

A first planar member 13, which is generally circular and has a diametercorresponding substantially to the diameter of the enlarged upper endportion 5 of the fitting 4, and which is interchangeable with other likeplanar members, is removably secured to the upper end face of thefitting 4, between the enlarged upper end portion 5 thereof and the cap7.

The planar member 13 is secured against rotative displacement relativeto the fitting 4 by a pair of diametrically opposed upstanding pins 14on the enlarged upper end portion 5 which are received in correspondingholes therefor in the planar member 13.

The planar member 13 has a slot 15 extending radially inwardly from oneside thereof, beyond its center, corresponding to the transverse slot 8of the upper end portion 5 of the fitting 4. The slot 15 of the planarmember 13 is relatively narrower and shorter than the transverse slot 8of the upper end portion 5, whereby a marginal portion of the planarmember 13 immediately adjacent the slot 15 forms a lip extendinginwardly beyond opposite sides and the adjacent end of the transverseslot 8.

A second planar member 16, which is conformable to the transverse slot 8of the upper end portion 50f the fitting 4 and has an opening 17 thereincorresponding to the central bore 9, is received in the transverse slot8 and is secured against radial displacement relative thereto by anupstanding pin 18 on the upper end portion 5 which is received in a holetherefor in the planar member 16.

In the use of the shell holder 1 above described, the shell 2 has itsflanged end 3 received in the transverse slot 8 of the upper end portion5 of the fitting 4, below the first planar member 13 and above thesecond planar member 16, and extends upwardly through the transverseslot of the planar member 13 and the transverse slot 11 of the cap 7.Vertical displacement of the shell 2 relative to the shell holder 1 isprevented by abutment of the flange 3 against the edge of the slot 15and by abutment of the adjacent end of the shell 2 against the secondplanar member 16.

The edge of the slot 15 of the planar member 13'is engageable also withthe peripheral groove of a shell such as the shell 2 which'has aperipheral groove therein rather than a radially outwardly extendingannular flange such as the flange 3.

The edge of the slot 15 advantageously may be beveled, as shown in FIGS.2 and 3, whereby it is particularly adaptedfor use with a shell'having aperipheral groove therein, theedge of the slot 15 being engageable withsuch groove While the remainder of the planar member 13 may berelatively thicker.

The first planar member 13 is interchangeable with other like planarmembers having slots 15 of different widths and lengths for use withshells of different types and sizes. Similarly, the second planar member16 is interchangeable with other like planar members of differentthicknesses.

The opening 17 of the second planarmember 1 6, with the central bore 9and the longitudinal slot 10 of the fitting 4, which are'conventional,is provided for usein ejecting a used cap or p rimer from the shell 2and replacing it with another.

The enlarged inner endportion 12 of the transverse slot'll of the cap 7is provided whereby the die which is employed in the step ofreloadingithe shell 1 may have its lower end portion extenddownwardlythrough the cap 7 upon-advancing {the holder 1 relativethereto with the shell 2 in place. a

"Ihe invention may be modified in various ways without departing fromthe spirit and. scope thereof.

I claim: a 1. A holder for used shells or casings, applicableinterchangeably to shells or casings of differenttypes and sizes,

removably connected to the ram, theshell or-casing hav- 4 ing a radiallyoutwardly extending annular flange, or alternatively, a peripheralgroove, adjacent the end thereof which carries the cap or primer,comprising a generally cylindrical fitting having means connecting it toa ram and extending upwardly therefrom, the fitting having an enlarged,externally threaded upper end portion and having a lower end portion oflesser diameter, and having a transverse slot extending radiallyinwardly from one side thereof, adjacent its upper end, beyond itscenter, an internally threaded cap received on the threaded upper end ofthe fitting, the cap having a transverse slot extending radiallyinwardly from one side thereof, adjacent its upper end, beyond itscenter, and extending downwardly along said one side thereof, thetransverse slots of the fitting and the cap having mutually alignedbottom and side walls in one rotative position of the cap relative tothe fitting, a first planafmember, generally circular in plan, removablysecured to the upper end of the fitting, between the fitting and thecap, the planar member having a slot extending radially inwardly fromone side thereof, beyond its center, the last mentioned slot beingrelatively narrower and shorter than the transverse slots of the fittingand the cap and being engageable over the annular flange, oralternatively, in theperipheral groove of ashell or casing having itsflanged .or grooved .end received in said transverse slots and extendingupwardly therefrom, and

a second planar member conformable to the transverse slot of the fittingreceived in said transverse slot and engageable under a shell or casinghaving its flanged or grooved end received in said transverse slot, thefirst planar member being interchangeable with other'likeplanar membershaving slots of ditferentdimensions and the second planar member beinginterchangeable with other like planar members of different thicknesses.

2. The structure'of claim 1, the firstplanar member being securedagainst-radial displacement relative to the fitting by a pair ofdiametrically opposed upstanding pins on the upper end of the fittingreceived'in corresponding holes therefor'in the planar meniber,-and thesecond planar member being secured against radial displacementrelativeto the fitting by an upstanding pin on the bottom Wall of thetransverse slot of the fitting received in a corresponding hole thereforin the planar member.

3.'The structure of claim 1, the enlarged upper end portion ofthe-fitting having a central bore communicating with the bot-tom of "thetransverse "slot thereof and the lower end portion'having. alongitudinal slot'extending radially inwardly from one side thereof,beyond its center, communicating with the "central bore, and the secondplanar member having an opening therein aligned with the central bore ofthe fitting.

4. The structure of claim 1, the transverse .slot of the cap having anenlarged inner end portion extending radially outwardly beyond oppositesides and the adjacent end of the transverse slot of the fitting.

5. The structure of claim 1, the slot of the first planar member havingbeveled edges along its opposite sides and the inner end thereof.

References Cited in'the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS3,025,743 Cecchi Marx-20, 1962

1. A HOLDER FOR USED SHELLS OR CASINGS, APPLICABLE INTERCHANGEABLY TOSHELLS OR CASINGS OF DIFFERENT TYPES AND SIZES, FOR USE IN CONJUNCTIONWITH A PRESS HAVING DIES FOR RECONDITIONING FOR REUSE THE SHELLS ORCASINGS OF SPENT CARTRIDGES EMPLOYED AS AMMUNITION FOR SMALL ARMS SUCHAS RIFLES AND PISTOLS, AND HAVING A VERTICALLY RECIPROCABLE RAM FORADVANCING AND RETRACTING A SHELL OR CASING RELATIVE TO THE DIES, WHEREBYA SHELL OR CASING IS ADAPTED TO BE REMOVABLY CONNECTED TO THE RAM, THESHELL OR CASING HAVING A RADIALLY OUTWARDLY EXTENDING ANNULAR FLANGE, ORALTERNATIVELY, A PERIPHERAL GROOVE, ADJACENT THE END THEREOF WHICHCARRIES THE CAP OR PRIMER, COMPRISING A GENERALLY CYLINDRICAL FITTINGHAVING MEANS CONNECTING IT TO A RAM AND EXTENDING UPWARDLY THEREFROM,THE FITTING HAVING AN ENLARGED, EXTERNALLY THREADED UPPER END PORTIONAND HAVING A LOWER END PORTION OF LESSER DIAMETER, AND HAVING ATRANSVERSE SLOT EXTENDING RADIALLY INWARDLY FROM ONE SIDE THEREOF,ADJACENT ITS UPPER END, BEYOND ITS CENTER, AN INTERNALLY THREADED CAPRECEIVED ON THE THREADED UPPER END OF THE FITTING, THE CAP HAVING ATRANSVERSE SLOT EXTENDING RADIALLY INWARDLY FROM ONE SIDE THEREOF,ADJACENT ITS UPPER END, BEYOND ITS CENTER, AND EXTENDING DOWNWARDLYALONG SAID ONE SIDE THEREOF, THE TRANSVERSE SLOTS OF THE FITTING AND THECAP HAVING MUTUALLY ALIGNED BOTTOM AND SIDE WALLS IN ONE ROTATIVEPOSITION OF THE CAP RELATIVE TO THE FITTING, A FIRST PLANAR MEMBER,GENERALLY CIRCULAR IN PLAN, REMOVABLY SECURED TO THE UPPER END OF THEFITTING, BETWEEN THE FITTING AND THE CAP, THE PLANAR MEMBER HAVING ASLOT EXTENDING RADIALLY INWARDLY FROM ONE SIDE THEREOF, BEYOND ITSCENTER, THE LAST MENTIONED SLOT BEING RELATIVELY NARROWER AND SHORTERTHAN THE TRANSVERSE SLOTS OF THE FITTING AND THE CAP AND BEINGENGAGEABLE OVER THE ANNULAR FLANGE, OR ALTERNATIVELY, IN THE PERIPHERALGROOVE OF A SHELL OR CASING HAVING ITS FLANGED OR GROOVED END RECEIVEDIN SAID TRANSVERSE SLOTS AND EXTENDING UPWARDLY THEREFROM, AND A SECONDPLANAR MEMBER CONFORMABLE TO THE TRANSVERSE SLOT OF THE FITTING RECEIVEDIN SAID TRANSVERSE SLOT AND ENGAGEABLE UNDER A SHELL OR CASING HAVINGITS FLANGED OR GROOVED END RECEIVED IN SAID TRANSVERSE SLOT, THE FIRSTPLANAR MEMBER BEING INTERCHANGEABLE WITH OTHER LIKE PLANAR MEMBERSHAVING SLOTS OF DIFFERENT DIMENSIONS AND THE SECOND PLANAR MEMBER BEINGINTERCHANGEABLE WITH OTHER LIKE PLANAR MEMBERS OF DIFFERENT THICKNESSES.